Archive for October, 2015

October is the month where the temperature should drop to reasonable cold Autumn temperature, right? No such luck in California! Despite the warm Spring-like temperatures, October has been one of the best months of 2015. (Probably because lots of money was being spent for the book events I went to; it made me weep at my empty wallet.)

WHAT’S UP?

I went to book events, and saw Leigh Bardugo, Patrick Ness, Jeffery Cranor and Joseph Fink. (Not in the same event, of course.)

IT WAS SUCH A THRILL TO MEET THEM ALL. Leigh Bardugo is a fucking queen; it is such a joy to see her talk because she’s so animated and awesome. (I would’ve done a recap of the event, but I forgot most of what was said; I was just so nervous and ~in my head the entire event. After the event, I did go to the Asian Art Museum because it was free that day. )

I also met the delightful Patrick Ness, who is super sweet and hilarious. I can spout poetry about seeing him talk and meeting him, but I won’t because i’ll devolve into a giggle fest. (You should read my recap of the event, and if you live in the US, you can win the ARC of his recent book and a surprise ARC!)

This past Thursday, I saw Jeffery Cranor and Joseph Fink talk, and just hearing them talk about themselves and Night Vale was an absolutely joy. I had a grin on my face the entire time, absolutely captivated by what they were saying. (There will be a recap, so stay tuned!) It was a great last event of my 2015.

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments-until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned-and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams. . . .

First sentence: “Natasha Romanoff hated pierogies—but more than that, she hated lies.”

Natasha, Natasha, where art thou? You’re certainly not in Black Widow: Forever Red (at least, not as much as I had wished you were).

When I heard there was gonna be a novel about Black Widow, I jumped in joy, and I had thought it would be an origins story (of sorts)—like how Natasha became the Black Widow and a bit of her history. The young adult part of Natasha’s life. Imagine my surprise when Black Widow: Forever Red focused on a new character—someone I didn’t particularly care about—and essentially shoved Natasha out of the spotlight.

I love comics and graphic novels, so what do I do with that love? Well, I turn it into a new feature!

From Panel to Panel is a new feature where I talk about the awesome (and perhaps not-so awesome) comic books and graphic novels I’ve read. Basically, this will be me pushing them onto your laps. You’re welcome.

September is the month with lots of interesting (and hopefully kickass) comics/graphic novels! I’ve found so many that I want to add into my shopping cart!

Let’s talk about those September graphic novels I’m excited about (and you should too!). You’ll see ones about a lady killer, a comic book character with her own Netflix series, historical humor, a gay Jamaican cop, people seeking revenge, and so much more!

In a future just a few years down the road in the wrong direction, a woman’s failure to comply with her patriarchal overlords will result in exile to the meanest penal planet in the galaxy. When the newest crop of fresh femmes arrive, can they work together to stay alive or will hidden agendas, crooked guards, and the deadliest sport on (or off!) Earth take them to their maker? — Image Comics

Why I’m excited: “The series is a feminist send-up of the exploitation film genre that takes place in a dystopian reality where non-compliant women are sent to an off-planet prison.”1Can I get a hell fucking yes? Plus, it was also marketed to me as Orange Is The New Black but in space.

Bitch Planet is a comic that is full of ladies—both in writer and content. I love that. It’s a safe bet with Kelly Sue Deconnick at the helm of this comic. Ladies gotta represent, and we get it here.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake + a Chinese main character? Count me in.

San Francisco, 1906: Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty in Chinatown, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes.

On April 18, an historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. With martial law in effect, she is forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the Army to bring help. Fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, yet Mercy still has the ‘bossy’ cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenaged girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?Goodreads

I love comics and graphic novels, so what do I do with that love? Well, I turn it into a new feature!

From Panel to Panel is a new feature where I talk about the awesome (and perhaps not-so awesome) comic books and graphic novels I’ve read. Basically, this will be me pushing them onto your laps. You’re welcome.

How ‘bout a Western with a little bit of magic? Plume is exactly that.

Written and illustrated by K. Lynn Smith, Plume is “a western webcomic about Vesper Grey and her supernatural (and reluctant) guardian Corrick. On their way to recover some stolen artifacts, they start to uncover the gritty truth about their pasts and learn that the West is anything but tame.”

Not Your Mother’s Book Club™ proudly presents Carnegie Medal-winning novelist Patrick Ness, in celebration of his new novel The Rest of Us Just Live Here! A bold and irreverent novel, it powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable.

You know who you must see in person if you get a chance? Patrick Ness. He is a gem, and you don’t want to miss out on a wonderful gem.

The last time Patrick Ness was in the San Francisco Bay Area for his book tour (I know he was here during ALA) was in January 2013, and I, unfortunately, had to miss it because 1. I hadn’t known about the event until day of and 2. I had sprained my ankle and I couldn’t exactly hobble around for fear of worsening it. Suffice to say, I was absolutely dyinnnnnng to meet Patrick Ness.

I did meet him when I was at ALA, but I never got the opportunity to unload all my More Than This ~feels onto him. I needed to tell him how much that book wrecked me and how much it meant to me.

about me

I'm Cee, queen of all things delightful!
Well, in my head.

The Novel Hermit is written by a daydreamer who loves books and thinks they are absolutely delightful. You will find YA, reviews, comics, discussion, letters, fonts + book cover love, and lots of fangirling squealing. What more can you ask for?

Disclaimer

All of the books I review either have been purchased by me, borrowed from the library, and sent to me by the publisher (the latter of which I will note). All the words and opinions in this blog are my own. I am not paid to write reviews. Synopsis are taken from either the back of the book or from Goodreads.com. Any use and/or duplication of my material without permission from me (the author and owner of The Novel Hermit blog) is strictly prohibited.